EastEnders ‘most-watched programme’

A typically festive EastEnders in which
Archie Mitchell was murdered was the most watched television programme on Friday with nearly 11 million viewers.

The soap pulled in 45.9% of the total television audience, the BBC said, recording 10.9 million viewers on average and a peak of 11.9 million.

11 million viewers saw Archie Mitchell, played by Larry Lamb, murdered on EastEnders on Christmas Day

It was followed on the schedule by The Royle Family which attracted an audience of 10.2 million (42.5%).

Doctor Who chalked up 10 million viewers, which was a 42.2% audience share, and Gavin and Stacey 9.2 million (39.2%).

Eight of the top 10 shows on Friday were BBC broadcasts, apart from Coronation Street which came sixth with 7.9 million viewers and the Queen’s speech which pulled in 5.6 million.

BBC One controller Jay Hunt said: “I am thrilled that BBC One continues to be the channel of choice for Christmas Day viewing. The range and variety of our line-up this year offered something for all audiences to enjoy.”

More viewers tuned in to Christmas favourites in high definition, the most popular being Doctor Who with an audience of 343,000, and then The Gruffalo with 249,000.

This was up on last year when 120,000 watched Wallace and Gromit in HD.

BBC Director of Vision Jana Bennett said: “The BBC’s commitment to providing the best possible viewing can be seen in these audience figures.

“Alongside great performances from BBC One and BBC Two I am particularly delighted that BBC HD’s performance continues to go from strength to strength.”